Oil well sample taking means



2 Sheefs-Sheet l April 4, 1939. H. DRlPPs OIL WELL SAMPLE TAKING MEANS Filed Feb. 8, 1938 l fia/05- JA WYJ/a Attorneys April 4, 1939 H. DRlPPs 2,152,794

i ou. WELL SAMPLE TAKING MEANS Filed Feb. 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jpeg?,

Inventor Hama app@ Attorneys Patented Apr. 4, 1939 :UNITED STATES ,PATE-NT OFFICE on. WELL sarranme `MEANS i 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an especially constructed manually utilized remote controlled valve structure usable in connection with a drill Pipe or tubing, whereby `to provide the trade with practicable and reliable means to trap and readily bring tothe surface sample uid and, as the case may be, to facilitate scientific testing and to promote unhampered well drilling. l

The foregoing is not intended to convey the iml0 pression that I consider caretaking and sample trapping structures broadly new in any sense of the word. In fact, it is intended `to definitely and specifically disclose the fundamental novelty, this being the special valve construction, the

' l5 latter being such as to permit the action of a hand dropped weight to develop a blow or impact sufiicent to trip and open the valve for adequate collection-of the well uid for periodical testing and linspection work.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplified in the form of a valve casing, seat and impact controlled valve' mechanism, the latter' being characterized by spring returned trip means controlling the function of detents or retaining slips alternately holding the valve elements in closed and open positions respectively. Other'features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following ldescription and accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the preferred embodiment of theinvention and bringing ou to advantage the valve means and casing constrl ction, this being embodied in or attached to the well drilling tubing, y i Figure 2 is 'an enlarged central vertical sectional or longitudinal view bringing out to advantage the valve structure and showing the valve closed and locked in closed position.' Y

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the valve locked in open position after having been tripped by the drop-weight. 5 Figures 4 andV 5 are transverse views on the lines -I and 5-5 respectively of Figure 3.

Reference being had to the general assembly depicted in Figure 1 it will be observed that the drill pipe or tubing is indicated at A, the lower or v bottom section thereof B1 having an adapter fitting C for a uid controlled ball 'check valve D.

The improved valve structure, as a unit, inter- A posed between the parts, A and B is differentiated by the numeral 6. 'I'he pipe sections 1, 8 and'8 are threaded together and provide the valvecas- 1 ing. structure, this being interposed'between and connected with the parts A and'B.- The part 9 serves to accommodate the lower tubing section B and also 'serves to accommodate the neck portion Illof the nut I I forming the valve seat means 5 l2. The valve element per se, which cooperates with this seat, is denoted by the numeral I3. The

' part I3 comprises a tubular stem I 4 having a disklike head I5, said head being provided with passages I6 radially communicating with the bore in l0 the tubular stem. Surrounding the valve stem at longitudinally spaced points are annular keeper grooves or channels I1 and I8 respectively, and theseare adapted to'accommodate the keeper lugs or'detents I9 on the so-called slips. The l5 slips are in effect trip and retaining latches operating alternately as shown inFigures 2 and 3 respectively. It will be observedthat these slips are mounted in a supportingcase or equivalent adapter collar28. Each latch or slip comprises 20 plemental or companion ca-m surfaces 24 and 25 25.

on the reciprocatory remote controlled tripsleeve 26. This sleeve unit 26 comprises the'sleeve 21 proper and this is in eect a 'socket for slidable reception of the tubular stem of the val've element I3. The sleeve has an enlarged shoulder 30 forming head 28 on one" end, and said head is provided with ports or passages. for allowing the trappings to pass therethrough up into the drill pipe. The top of the head is provided with a cavity or depression 30 whichaccommol, dates 4the drop-weight 3l, which in practice; is

dropped down through-the drill tube A from Athe ground or surface. j

The sleeve unit 26 slides or works in a special annular tting 32 threaded in the upper part 8 of the valve casing. This tting is provided with a socket to accommodate a coiled spring 33 and the spring rests against the shoulder i forming head 28 to normally lift and maintain the' .trip or sleeve unit 26 in the elevated position shown in the drawings.

In operation, before the drill tubing A is lowered into the well casing (not shownifor the purpose of taking samples at different depths the successively operable valves D and i are attached to-the lowerv end thereof. Naturally.' as the device descends into the well, the check valve D opens and initially traps certain of the well uids and accumulations sought after' Before-lowering the structure into the well, howkis ' by dropping a heavy piece of pipe or .other Weight 3l down through the drill tubing as brought out in Figure 3 of the drawings. The weight strikes a blow against the head 28 and hammers the unit 26 down, so to speak, against the tension of the return spring 33. As the trip unit 26 thus descends under the eiect of this weighted blow, the cam surface 24 comes into engagement with coacting cam elements 2l releasing the detents I9. The incoming iluid under pressure thus unseats the'valve unit I3 causing it to rise into the companion trip unit 26. As the unit 26 is returned under the tension of the spring 33 the cams 25 and 22 come into play to drop the detents I9 into the lower keeper channel I1. Consequently, the valve means I3 is now locked in open position as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

ture is 'withdrawn from the Well, and the necessary scientic tests are made.. This operation is, of course, repeated at derent depths and I each time the sample taking device is reinserted into the Well it is necessary to again set the valve means I3 to its 'closed position shown in Figure 2 of thev drawlngs.

The' structure herein shown and described has been found to be suiicient for adequate attachment toa drill pipe or tubing permitting taking of samples of different materials for testing and is believed to be ingenious in that it is remote controlled under the action of a drop-Weight, the valve structure being constructed along prescribed lines to definitely function to provide the desired closed and open activities according to the dictates of the user.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of theinvention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

After the sample is thus trapped, thestruc- While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

l. In a valve structure of the class described, a relatively stationary valve seat, a valve unit cooperable therewith, said valve unit including a tubular stem, a sleeve slidably fitted over said stem, said sleeve being provided with an apertured head, said sleeveand head constituting a remotecontrolled weight tripped actuator device, and spring return means for said sleeve, said sleeve being provided with successively operable cam surfaces, and pivoted c am surfacedlatches surrounding said cam surfaces, said latches in- .cludingv detents, said sleeve being provided with keeper channels .for reception of said detents.

2. In a valve construction of the class described, a.casing, a valve seat in said casing, a relatively movable valve unit including a tubular stem and a valve head cooperable with said seat, said stem being provided with longitudinally spaced annular keeper channe1s, a mounting surrounding said sleeve, pivotedlatches on said mounting including detent lugs selectively engageable with said channels, a guide fitting, a sleeve slidable in said guide tting,

said sleeve being provided with a head, spring means interposed between the guide fitting and head, the aforementioned stem being slidable in said sleeve in the manner and for the purposes described.

3. Inv a `valve construction of the class described, a casing, a relatively fixed valve seat in said casing, a plurality of circumferentially spaced detent equipped latches pivotally mounted in said casing, a valve cooperable with said seat and having an upstanding stem rising therefrom and projecting upwardly 'between and beyond the detents on said latches, a spring elevated member having a weight lowered head and' means telescopically receiving said valve stem, said means having portions for tripping and releasing -the latches, and said stem having longitudinally spaced progressively usable keeper seats for. the detents.

. HAROLD DRIPPS. 

